ICEINSPACE
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Moon Phase
CURRENT MOON
Last Quarter 40.9%
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09-02-2010, 07:18 PM
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Let there be night...
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
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A clear night... first light... dare I?
Time for first light! It's been hiding in its box for the past few days for all the rain we've had. Tonight looks clear-ish, so out it comes.
The new Mewlon 210. 
Can't wait to see what this little sucker can do for my lunar photography. Long focal length again - oh joy! 
Last edited by Omaroo; 10-02-2010 at 05:00 PM.
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09-02-2010, 07:23 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Perth, WA
Posts: 1,307
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Mmmm that's a lovely DK
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09-02-2010, 07:29 PM
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Let there be night...
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
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DK.... yep - and it's first collimation tonight. Wish me luck! LOL!
It's basic collimation is pretty reasonable, I just used the old "concentric rings when standing in front of it at 6 diameters" SCT trick to get it at least showing detail. Transport knocked it for six. Star-tests a-plenty tonight me thinks. 
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09-02-2010, 07:29 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Monto
Posts: 16,741
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Good luck Chris.
I'm sure she'll perform flawlessly.
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09-02-2010, 07:30 PM
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Let there be night...
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jjjnettie
Good luck Chris.
I'm sure she'll perform flawlessly. |
Thanks Nettie We can go through the same trials and tribulations together....
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09-02-2010, 07:30 PM
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Dazzled by the Cosmos.
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 11,811
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Hi Chris
The M210 looks quite handsome atop the G-11. How did you fit the Losmandy plate to the OTA – just the x2 M5 socket head cap screws?
Do you have the Tak standard eyepiece outlet or is there a motorised focuser fitted yet?
I’m sure you’ll have a grand night out with a lovely companion, gazing at the Moon!
Cheers
Dennis
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09-02-2010, 07:32 PM
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2'sCompany3's a StarParty
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Eagle Vale
Posts: 1,251
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Bring it with you to Stargard Chris?
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09-02-2010, 07:35 PM
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Let there be night...
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
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Hi Dennis
Yes, I just removed the standard Vixen-style dovetail and attached a Losmandy Universal D-Series plate to it using the existing screws. The Losmandy plate is a trifle thinner at the points the bolts go through, so there is more purchase into the foot threads on the OTA.
I've left the back standard tonight, just to get it working in basic trim. When it's collimated I'll get the new FeatherTouch attached and then motorise it. I have it all planned!
The moon is probably up a little late for me tonight (work tomorrow), but at least I'll hopefully have stars pinpoint. Maybe I'll set the alarm...
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09-02-2010, 07:37 PM
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Like to learn
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: melbourne
Posts: 4,835
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Awesome Chris  You risk some serious weather anomalies with that thing
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09-02-2010, 07:37 PM
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Let there be night...
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
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Quote:
Originally Posted by astronut
Bring it with you to Stargard Chris? |
Not tonight John - it's been a long day. I have to pack tomorrow night, so that probably knocks that out too. We'll see if I can pack and have it finished tomorrow.
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09-02-2010, 07:38 PM
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Let there be night...
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
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Thanks David How's your setup going?
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09-02-2010, 07:52 PM
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Like to learn
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: melbourne
Posts: 4,835
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Good thanks Chris, the replacement 6" refractor is collimated etc.
Saving up for the camera next.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Omaroo
Thanks David How's your setup going? |
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09-02-2010, 07:55 PM
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Let there be night...
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidU
Saving up for the camera next.
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LOL! Aren't we all! It's all on-going...
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09-02-2010, 08:18 PM
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Lost in Namibia
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Albury NSW
Posts: 3,134
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Beautiful rig there Chris
Cheers Petra d.
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09-02-2010, 08:39 PM
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Let there be night...
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
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Thanks Petra
OK - first light has occurred...
I've tweaked collimation so that I get a concentric disk at centre. It's amazing how this is lost as soon as you start going off-axis. The concentricity is quite critical.
And.... diffraction spikes on bright stars. Weird!!! For a refractor guy, this is very strange. I'll let it get darker outside and see if I can see clusters as dots or cross-hatch fields...
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09-02-2010, 08:51 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Monto
Posts: 16,741
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I like diffraction spikes.
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09-02-2010, 09:06 PM
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Really just a beginner
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 3,045
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Looks good Chris,
Hope that all goes well with collimation.
Still haven't had any favourable weather to try out the FS-102 though...
David T
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09-02-2010, 09:23 PM
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Let there be night...
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidTrap
Looks good Chris,
Hope that all goes well with collimation.
Still haven't had any favourable weather to try out the FS-102 though...
David T
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So Brisbane's clouded out David? Have you tried it on a distant terrestrial subject?
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09-02-2010, 09:53 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NEWCASTLE NSW Australia
Posts: 33,425
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mmm your fault......nice scope Chris
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09-02-2010, 10:25 PM
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Really just a beginner
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 3,045
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Omaroo
So Brisbane's clouded out David? Have you tried it on a distant terrestrial subject?
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Yeah, I have, but it's not the same.
DT
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